Pokwang prays for a guy, but focuses on daughter

“She is the reason I’m loveless. She always reminds me not to fall in love with the wrong guy again,” comedienne Pokwang said of daughter Ria Mae, who has yet to meet her Japanese father.

The 43-year-old single mom said the guy left her when she was still pregnant with Ria Mae. “She once told me, ‘[Don’t] commit more mistakes, Ma.’ She would always encourage me to be more discerning … she inspires me to make intelligent decisions,” Pokwang said during a media gathering for her latest movie “My Illegal Wife.”

Pokwang said she would always pray for a “guy who is respectful, driven and God-fearing … but love is not my focus these days. I need to work hard to be able to send my daughter to school.” Ria Mae is a college sophomore, taking up culinary arts.

POKWANG stars with Zanjoe Marudo in “My Illegal Wife.”

Only child

Pokwang’s daughter recently had her grand debut. “I really made sure she was happy on her 18th birthday. I didn’t mind the expenses—after all, she’s my only child. When the party was finished and it was just the two of us left, she cried and said thanks to me,” Pokwang recalled. “Ria Mae said she was grateful for everything I’ve done for her. All my hard work has paid off, just hearing her say those words.”

While Ria Mae has several suitors, her mom said the young lady was not yet interested in romantic relationships. “She still hasn’t introduced any of her suitors to me. Like me, she is not yet ready for love, I guess. I told her I prefer that she entertains them at home rather than I find out from the news that she’s out on dates with them at the mall.”

Pokwang said what Ria Mae found more interesting was learning about Japan’s culture, and eventually locating her father. “She told me only recently that she wanted to visit Japan. I have a show there with Pooh, Chokoleit and K Brosas in October. She would probably tag along,” Pokwang shared with the Inquirer.

“There is no assurance that Ria Mae would be reunited with her father during the trip,” Pokwang said, “but I’ve already spoken to a Japan-based friend who promised to help us out. I’m glad that Ria Mae is finally curious about this other aspect of her life, of tracing her roots.”

Forgiving person

Pokwang said her former partner now has a new wife and their own children. “I’ve always told her not to hate her daddy. I tried to raise her to become a person with a heart that’s accepting and forgiving,” the actress added. “I told her there will come a time when she’ll finally understand why she had to grow up without a father. If she decides to stay there to study, I wouldn’t stop her. I will not be selfish.”

In “My Illegal Wife,” Pokwang teams up with Zanjoe Marudo to tell the story of a single mom named Clarise, who tricks Henry—a hot stud suffering from amnesia—into believing that they are happily married. Tony Y. Reyes directs the comedy flick co-produced by Star Cinema and Skylight Films.

“Bea (Alonzo) is so lucky to have Zanjoe as her boyfriend. He is tall, dark, handsome and a total gentleman,” Pokwang said of her leading man. She also quipped that Bea had no reason to feel “threatened and jealous” of her. “We’re like siblings. I hang out with them either at Bea’s or at my house. Star Magic artists are all professionals,” she pointed out.

“My Illegal Wife” is currently in cinemas.

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